Tell us why you became a teacher

I realized I loved children when I was 16 and began working at my local YMCA. I continued to teach art and music at summer camp, and decided that I wanted to continue that as a career. I decided to focus on elementary and special education because I felt like there was more of a need for it than in arts/music and I could also incorporate my love of both into my classroom and my students.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Two years ago, I wrote a grant to bring pollinators to my school. We purchased two beehives and tracked monarchs on their flight to Mexico. I've watched the students get excited about nature and conservation. It also has been fantastic to watch the students and teachers make cross-curricular connections to our hives. We've used them to teach geometry, reading, writing, presenting, and this year we added in art. We sent 500 monarchs designed by students on a "mock migration" to Mexico.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Pay off my student loans. That would enable me to start an art studio where I could teach art classes to kids and adults with and without disabilities, which has been my dream for a long time. I would still continue to teach in the public school system.